A "passive walker" is a simple mechanical oscillator than can be made to walk down a slight incline using only gravity for power. This passive walker is a test design for a future "passive-dynamic" robotic walker, one that will use small motors to replace the generating force of gravity, allowing it to travel continuously on a flat surface.

The last several years have seen a growing interest in passive walkers. For robotics, a passive walker serves as a basis on which to build an efficient robotic biped walker. It is estimated that a "passive-dynamic" robotic walker could use as little as 10% of the power required for more traditional humanoid bipeds like the Honda Asimo.